Brake-beam.



PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903'. H. W. WOLFE & A. LIPSCHUTZ. BRAKE BEAM.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 29. 1

PATENTED BBQ. 15, 1903.. H. W. WOLPF & A. LIPSCHUTZ.

BRAKE BEAM. APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 29, 1902.

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Patented December 15, 1903.

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HERBERT W. WOLFF AND ARTHUR LIPSCHUTZ, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BRAKE BEAll/l.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,288, dated December 15, 1903.

' Application filed October 29, 1902. Serial No. 129,299. (No model.)

description, such as will enable others skilled.

in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan View of our improved brake-beam. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view. Fig. 3 is an end elevational View. Fig. 4: is an end View of the flanged body member. Fig. 5 is a Vertical sectional view through a portion of the brake-head, showing the manner of securing the same on the flanged body member. Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional View showing the manner of securing the guardfinger in position. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on line 8 8, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view. Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional View showing the manner of securing the lever-post in position. Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional View on line 11 11, Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view online 12 12, Fig. 10; and Fig 13 is a vertical sectional view on line 13 13, Fig. 10.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in brake-beams for use in connection with railway rolling-stock, an object being to form the main member of pressed steel of deep channel shape adapted to be used without a separate tension member and strut, the web thereof being strengthened by reinforcing-flanges.

Another object is to provide a reversible mount for the guard-fingers, wherebya single pattern may be used for mounting the right and left guard-fingers.

Another object is to provide a reversible lever-post and finally to simplify the construction and arrangement of the parts and to generally cheapen the cost of manufacturing devices of this character.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts,

all as willhereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the body portion of the brake-beam, which is preferably made of pressed steel and substantiallyof channel form throughout. This beam is so constructed that it. tapers from the middle portion toward each end, both with respect or legs 3 of the U-shaped beam, whose free ends are provided with verticallydisposed flanges 4. These top and bottom walls 3 follow the contour of the back wall-that is, said walls are most widely separated at the center of the beam and approach toward each other to a point near the ends of the beam, where they extend parallel to each other for the purpose of accommodating the brake-heads. We prefer to extend the flanges 4 outwardly; but it is obvious that said flanges could extend inwardly, if desired.

5 indicates the brake-heads, which are shaped to receive the ends of thebeam and are provided with extensions 6, fittinginto the channel-beam, and overhanging lugs 7,which preferably extend over the beam to receive the rivet or securing-bolt 8, by which the brake-headsare secured in position. i

9 indicates castings which are received between the top and bottom walls of the beam,

said castings forming mounts for the guardfingers 10. These guard-fingers, as shown in Fig. 7, are provided with enlarged heads forming shoulders which cooperate with the castings 9 in such manner that when the guardfingers are in positionthey cannot be displaced or pulled outwardly, the casting 9 having an extended nose portion affording an ample support for the guard-finger. Casting 9 has bearing-faces cooperating with the innor ifaces of the top and bottom walls of the beam and is also provided with an extension 11, having recesses 12 in its top and bottom faces, in which is seated the short leg of a .U- shaped securing member 13, as shown in Fig. 8. The long leg of this securing member passes down through the top and bottom Walls of the beam and the interposed casting 9 and is held against displacement by a cotter-pin or other securing medium 14. This long leg of the securing member is arranged in proximity to the head of the guard-finger 10 and assists in securing said guard-finger in position.

15 indicates the lever-post, which is provided with the usual jaws, between which the brake-lever is received. This lever-post is provided with a shoulder 16,which is designed to cooperate with the flanges 4 of the top and bottom walls. Extending rearwardly and into the channel of thebeam is a shank 17, which is preferably lightened at convenient points by removingsuperfluous material and webbed or ribbed for the purpose of reinforcement and strength. This shank is provided with sets of bolt-openings 18, disposed at angles of eighty degrees with relation to each other and having their axes intersecting in order to register with the openings in the top and bottom walls of the beam when the position of the lever-post is changed to accommodate a right or left hand lever. As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the general contour of the leverpost is diamond-shaped and when inserted in the channel of the brake-beam is designed to be held in position by bolts or rivets 19. In order to reverse the lever-post, it is only necessary to remove these bolts or rivets 19 for the purpose of freeing the lever-post and permittingits position to be changed in the channel, when new bolts or rivets can be used for securing the lever-post in its new position.

From the above it will be seen that the diamond-shaped shank is so formed that two adjacent sidesv form acute angles of substantially eighty degrees and the other two adjacent sides form obtuse angles of substantially one hundred degrees, making the leverpost reversible at will, whereby in its different positions said lever-post is firmly and securely seated, so that it has ample support to resist the tenstile and torsional strains to which it is subjected.

From the above it will be seen that the brake-beam as an entirety is extremely simple, requiring but few patterns for the manufacture of its parts. A pressed-steel channel is not only light but extremely strong. The lever-post is reversible and located within the line of the brake-heads,whereby the beam can be readily employed in connection with inside-hung brakes. By tapering the ends of the beam between the points adjacent the lever-post and brake-heads we are able to get an increased amount of metal at the center of the beam, which metal is so disposed as to contribute to the strength and rigidity of the beam.

We are aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of our brake-beam can be readily made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of our invention. 7

Having thus described our invention, What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a brake-beam, the combination with a channeled member made deepest at its central portion, and a brake-lever post secured between the horizontal walls thereof at approximately the deepest portion of said brakebeam; substantially as described.

2. In a brake-beam of the class described, the combination with a channeled member made widest and deepest at its center, and a brake-lever post secured between the horizontal walls thereof at approximately its widest and deepest portion; substantially as described.

3. In a brake-beam of the class described, the combination with a tapering back wall, of converging top and bottom walls having outwardly disposed flanges at their free edges, a brake-lever post secured between said top and bottom walls, and brake-heads on the ends of said beam; substantially as described.

4. In a brake-beam, the combination with a channeled member, of a brake-head having a projection extending into the channel of said member, an overhanging lug on said brake -head arranged exteriorly the channeled member, and a securing medium passing through said channeled member and said interiorly and exteriorly arranged lugs; substantially as described.

5. In a brake-beam, the combination with a casting having an opening of different di-.

ameters, of a guard-finger arranged therein and having a head which is received in the larger opening, and a securing medium for the casting passing through the larger opening and behind said head; substantially as described.

6. In a brake-beam, the combination with a casting having a lateral extension within said beam, of a guard-fingermounted in said casting, and a securing member cooperating with said guard-finger for holding the same in position and also with one-of the recesses in said lateral extension; substantially as described.

7. In a brake-beam, the combination with a casting having an opening of diiferent diameters, of a guard-finger mounted in said opening and provided with a head located in the opening of larger diameter, a recessed lateral extension integral with said casting, and a securing medium in the form of a U-shaped securing member whose legs are of unequal lengths, the shorter thereof being received in one of the recesses in the lateral extension and the longer passing through the larger opening in the casting behind the head of the guard-finger; substantially as described.

8. In a brake-beam, the combination with a channeled member, of a lever-post having a shank portion fitting in said channeled member, and openings in said shank portion for accommodating the fastenings when the position of the lever-post is changed; substantially as described.

9. In a brake-beam, the combination with a channeled member, of a lever-post having a diamond-shaped shank fitting into the channel of said member, and openings through said shank for the passage of a securing medium; substantially as described.

10. In a brake-beam, the combination with a channeled member, of a lever-post having a diamond-shaped shank extending into the channel of said member, and intersecting openings arranged at angles of eighty degrees with relation to each other, through which openings securing devices are designed to pass; substantially as described.

11. The herein-described lever-post for brake-beams, the same being provided with a diamond-shaped shank having two adjacent sides forming acute angles of eighty degrees, the other two adjacent sides forming obtuse angles of one hundred degrees; substantially as described.

12. The herein-described lever-post for brake-beams, the same being provided with jaws for receiving the brake-lever, a shoulder, and a diamond-shaped shank provided with openings for the passage of securing devices, whereby said lever-post is reversible; substantially as described.

13. The herein described leverpost for brake-beams, the same being provided with means for the attachment of a brake-lever, and a diamond-shaped shank having two of its sides forming acute angles of eighty degrees and its other two sides forming obtuse angles of one hundred degrees, said shank having openings for the passage of securing devices; substantially as described.

14. In a brake-beam, the combination with a channeled member having a vertical web portion deepest at its middle portion, integral walls projecting therefrom, said walls being formed Widest at their middle portion, and a brake-lever post projecting into said channel between the said Walls at approximately their widest portion; substantially as described.

15. In a brake-beam, the combination with a channeled member having a vertical web portion in substantially a straight line from end to end, said web being deepest at its middle portion, integral walls projecting therefrom, said walls being formed widest at their middle portion, and a brake-lever post projecting into said channel between the said walls at approximately their widest portion; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aftix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses, this 23d day of October, 1902.

HERBERT W. WOLFE. ARTHUR LIPSCHUTZ.

Witnesses:

GEORGE BAKEWELL, FREDERICK H. GIBBS. 

